Israeli warplanes have launched dozens of fresh airstrikes on the Gaza Strip, killing at least 10 Palestinians and wounding 40 others. The early Tuesday assaults targeted civilian homes, ministry buildings and security service installations, Hamas sources and witnesses said.
The buildings of the prime ministry, the defense ministry, foreign ministry, finance ministry, and the Islamic University of Gaza were hit in the raids, according to witnesses.
The foreign ministry was completely destroyed. Mahmud Zahar, one of the most influential Hamas leaders, heads the ministry.
The director of Gaza's emergency services, Moawiya Abu Hassanein, told AFP that five ambulance workers trying to reach victims at the foreign ministry building were also wounded in the bombing.
The finance ministry was also completely leveled, and fires broke out near the bombed sites.
The airstrikes knocked out electricity in Gaza City and to the north of the strip.
Witnesses also said dozens of houses have been damaged in the air strikes.
Earlier on Monday, Israeli Deputy Prime Minister Haim Ramon said that the goal of the massive bombardment of Gaza is to topple Hamas.
"After this operation there will not be a single Hamas building left standing in Gaza, and we plan to change the rules of the game," said armed forces deputy chief of staff Brigadier General Dan Harel, quoted by the YNet News website.
The Palestinian toll from the massacre rose to 355 dead and over 1590 wounded as Israel entered its fourth day of attacks on Tuesday.
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Topic: Israel pounds senior Hamas official's home (Read 632 times)